Voice Management

Does your child have:

  • A hoarse, croaky or raspy voice (like Darth Vader in Star Wars)
  • Recurring temporary loss of voice (after a sports event, end of the day)
  • Tense neck muscles
  • Pitch breaks when going from a low to high pitch
  • Difficulty sustaining a note when singing

 

Common causes of voice problems in children:

  • Upper respiratory tract infections such as laryngitis which leads to inflammation and swelling of the vocal cords.
  • Laryngo pharyngeal reflux
  • Voice misuse such as:
    • Tensing neck muscles and putting stress on the vocal cords.
    • Straining the voice: screaming, shouting, loud crying, talking loudly with too much effort.
    • Activities that may cause vocal strain include:
      • Loud and long emotional outbursts or tantrums.
      • Glottal attack (when vocal folds slam quickly and forcefully).
      • Persistent throat clearing

 

Voice misuse can lead to Vocal Nodules

What are Vocal Nodules?

Vocal nodules are noncancerous growths on the vocal cords. They are formed due to a thickening of the lining of the vocal fold due to repeated pressure (stress) on the same area of the vocal cords. Vocal nodules affects the voice resulting in hoarseness or decreased volume.

Implications:

A poor voice quality may make it difficult for a child to communicate effectively. This may affect their self-esteem, confidence or singing ability.

Tips for voice care
Speech pathologist